TOPIC: booth inspections

Hey, Mike. I remember a while back you mentioned that you have your "platter jockeys" white-glove the booths on each other. I'd like to know what you use for an inspection report and what sort of cleaning rituals the rest of the people use. How clean is that booth??

The important thing for "Film Done Right" is to keep dirt off the film, and not scratch the print. Best to use a central vacuum system, so as not to stir up dirt in the projection room. Damp mop the floors frequently. Work surfaces where the film is handled (rewind benches, make-up tables) should be vacuumed or damp-wiped frequently.

Smoking and food should NOT be allowed in film handling areas, and a spilled drink can spell disaster for the film print or electronic equipment.

Effective on-line film cleaners are available for only a few hundred dollars, and will keep your on-screen image spotless by removing dirt every time the print is projected.

Keep the relative humidity near the ideal range of 50 to 60 percent RH to control static charging, and the dirt it attracts. The film also has the optimum curl in that range. Use an EVAPORATIVE humidifier that puts needed moisture into the air by evaporating it off a foam, paper or ceramic filter. Do NOT use a vaporizer or ultrasonic humidifier that actually sprays a mist of water into the air.
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Customer Technical Services
Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Eastman Kodak Company
Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Telephone: +1 585-477-5325 Cell: +1 585-781-4036 Fax: +1 585-722-7243
E-Mail:
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Website: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

Thanks, John. I'd like to know what you consider to be the best products for cleaning the booth. I am a cleaning contractor, so I am familliar with many products. For the offices I clean, I use a germicidal detergent for tables and walls. Is there any products that could damage the prints? Every product leaves a residue, but what is leaste likely to damage the print?

First, never apply an unknown cleaning agent to the film itself. Things that will harm a print are materials that change the pH of the emulsion (acids or alkalis), sulfur compounds, ammonia compounds, peroxides, or other oxidizers/bleaching agents.

For other areas of the projection room, normal detergent cleaning aids are fine. For non-conductive surfaces (e.g., carpeting), use an anti-static additive to help control static.